NAACP Continues its Support of Van Jones and White House Green Jobs Initiative

September 03, 2009

NAACP Continues its Support of Special Advisor of Green Jobs Van Jones and the White House Green Jobs Initiative. The NAACP is calling for civility in the national discourse on safe, clean communities and sustainable sources of domestic energy. It is time to end the personal attacks on administration officials as a distraction to crucial discussion on our nation and our world's environmental conditions. NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous:

“It is sad and unfortunate that our nation's precious airwaves and cable television time are being occupied with the unscrupulous, diversionary tactics launched by right wing extremists such as Glenn Beck. These desperate tactics divert America's attention and intellectual resources away from issues affecting our families and communities. These life-and-death concerns are being overshadowed by employing ruthless attacks against Van Jones, White House Special Advisor for Green Jobs and dedicated advocate for safe, clean and healthy communities.

Van Jones has established himself through his many years in public service as a hardworking advocate for positive, progressive change. He is a devoted husband and father. Mr. Beck and the other news services' portrayal of Mr. Jones to the contrary is not only distracting and disingenuous but harmful and destructive.

“The only thing more outrageous than Mr. Beck’s attack on Van Jones is the fact that there are sponsors that continue to pay him to provide this type of offensive commentary. I can only assume hat this is the very reason that several dozen organizations throughout our country have gone on record stating they will boycott FOX News (the television network home of Glenn Beck). While we defend the right to free speech for all Americans, we expect news outlets throughout our country to uphold civility in their portrayal of the President of the United States as well as members of his administration and others who have wrongfully come under scrutiny. America's news outlets have the responsibility to uphold accuracy and integrity in their reporting."

Hilary O. Shelton, Director of the NAACP Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy:

“The tactics being deployed by right wing extremist commentators to divert the American people's attention away from very important issues of our nation such as sustainable energy, lack of dependence on foreign fuel sources, and the creation of living wage jobs are not only unethical but dangerous to the future of our country. Most recently, television commentator Glenn Beck of FOX News attempted to besmirch the character and integrity of President Obama's administration officials such as White House Special Advisor for Green Jobs Van Jones. This feeble, mean spirited attack is little more than a desperate attempt to derail the adminstration's priority of clean sustainable energy while working to end our nation's dependency on foreign energy sources.

“In an economy where unemployment is leaning toward 10 percent, and African-American unemployment lies at over 15 percent, the creation of employment opportunities for all Americans, including African-American and low-income communities, is a critical necessity. It is our experience that Mr. Jones’ plan to reinvigorate urban areas through the creation of green jobs not only demonstrates a constructive vision to invest in our communities, but also recognizes that climate change is indeed a civil rights issue. That is why we support his implementation of this very thoughtful plan.”

NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous on the resignation of Van Jones, White House Special Advisor for Green Jobs

Van Jones made a tough decision to step aside so that the nation's reform agenda will not be sidetracked by those who spin lies for profit.

Mr. Jones was on Time Magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world before he entered the White House. He was a bestselling author before he entered the White House. He was someone who made the leap from the public schools of Jackson, Tennessee to Yale University long before he entered the White House.

Now that he has chosen to leave the White House, we fully expect Mr. Jones to continue to help lead our nation out of its dual crises of environmental degradation and mass unemployment.

On a personal note, I have known Van Jones for more than 15 years. In that time he, as is characteristic of great public servants, has continuously grown and increased his capacity for improving the condition of humanity. Throughout, he has been guided by a powerful sense of patriotism and love for all.